Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Component Engineering Reverse Scan reader parts question

This is topic Component Engineering Reverse Scan reader parts question in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Bernie Anderson Jr (Member # 410) on 12-11-2008, 07:01 PM:

I was wondering if it would be cost effective to buy just the LED/bracket assembly and power supply from Component Engineering? And if so, how much would I have to put into it? I have the actual reader (replaces the slit lens and Exciter) but nothing else. Or is it just worth buying a whole new unit?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-11-2008, 07:15 PM:

The ST-40-A (the analog reader from a 40 series system) is about 36% of the entire ASR-40 system so that is amount of savings you would get by reusing your existing reader...PROVIDING, it is in good shape.

Steve

Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 12-11-2008, 11:17 PM:

It is a CE reader, correct?

Posted by Bernie Anderson Jr (Member # 410) on 12-11-2008, 11:34 PM:

Its a CE reader. Looks as if its the reader from an ASR-30. I know it works, i've swapped it out and tried it in another machine. I got it I think in a box of parts, but its missing the rest of the parts to make it work.

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 12-14-2008, 09:57 AM:

The entire conversion kit has the power supply, LED unit and associated bracketry, and the reader assembly.
If your reader assembly is in good working order (the ones for IR leds look the same but don't work with red leds) then check pricing from CE. As a rule the cost of individual parts is always greater than the cost of the complete unit... someone once added up the cost of getting parts to build a car from them and it was about ten times the price of the complete car.
If the needed parts cost much less than the complete kit, easy choice I think. If the kit is close to the same price... well, you would have a warranty on all new parts and a spare reader aseembly by buying a full kit.
Some soundheads need a bracket to mount the reader head... if you ever plan to use a basement SR-D reader then get the dual mount bracket so you don't have to replace that: just add a second power supply, LED head, and the SR-D reader. You can buy the dual bracket, or an analog-only kit including the dual bracket.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-14-2008, 11:36 AM:

Who told you that the IR reader doesn't work with the visible LED? You are misinformed...they will most certainly work. In fact, a CE upgrade from IR to visible does NOT include replacing the analog reader.

The change will require refocusing the reader...but doing an A-chain will take care of that.

If it is to be an analog only system, the slit-lens bracket is retained so all that is left is the power supply and the LED bracket and mount.

Steve

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 12-17-2008, 10:43 PM:

Can't recall by who at the moment.. I was given two analog CE readers that don't work and told they were old IR units incompatible with visible red light LEDs. Presumably just failed units?

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-18-2008, 12:36 AM:

Possibly...it is also possible that their links were not cut to boost their gain. They should work.

Steve